The Elf in the Oak is one of those places that doesn't look like much from the road — and that's exactly why it's a local secret worth telling. The grilled sandwiches are simple done extremely well: real ingredients, both sides of the bread buttered and grilled, and a lake view that turns lunch into an event.
The complimentary cinnamon roll has become something of a local legend, and the staff's warmth is mentioned in nearly every review. Whether you're parked at a picnic table on the lawn or tucked under the covered deck with a heater on a chilly day, this is the kind of off-the-beaten-path stop that makes a Finger Lakes trip memorable.